Forest walkWen Wang leads a walk through a forest of live oaks and other conifers located on the grounds of Descanso Gardens. 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge. Free with regular admission of $3 to $8. (818) 949-4200; www.descansogardens.org.

MAY 5

Chinese Garden lecture: Yang Ye, professor of comparative literature at UC Riverside, will give a slide lecture examining the aesthetic role of plants in gardens, such as the 450-year-old Yu Yuan (Garden to Please) in the heart of Shanghai. Free. No reservations required. Friends' Hall. Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. (626) 405-2100, www.huntington.org.

Design walk:Elle Decor presents the Legends of La Cienega Design Walk, a three-day celebration of the more than 40 galleries and shops along La Cienega Boulevard. Includes design vignettes, seminars, book signings and tours. For schedule: www.lcdqla.com/legends.

MAY 8

Public Gardens Day: National Public Gardens Day will be marked in Los Angeles at places such as Descanso Gardens, the Huntington Botanical Gardens and the Los Angeles County Arboretum. They will extend their hours and provide materials on conservation and environmental education. www.publicgardens.org.

Open Days: The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program tour of six private gardens in West Hollywood, Carthay Circle and Windsor Square. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to each garden is $5. Tour begins at the Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. (888) 842-2442; www.opendaysprogram.org.

CONTINUING

Ackermans: "Masters of Mid-Century California Modernism -- Evelyn Jerome Ackerman" includes more than 200 examples of ceramics, tile mosaics, wood carvings, textiles and other crafts from the Culver City couple. Through Jan. 10. $4 to $7. Mingei International Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego. (619) 239-0003; www.mingei.org.

Japan show:"The Subtle Beauty of Japanese Craft" features metal, textile, wood and clay works from the Mingei International Museum's renowned collection of Japanese folk art, craft and design. 1439 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through June 28. $4 to $7. (619) 239-0003, www.mingei.org.

Neutra tour: Richard and Dion Neutra's VDL Research House II, managed by Cal Poly Pomona's College of Environmental Design, will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. 2300 Silver Lake Blvd., Los Angeles. $10. www.neutravdl.org.

Pasadena Showcase:Twenty-five interior designers transform a 1917 Italian Renaissance Revival style home on more than 2 acres in San Marino at the 2009 Pasadena Showcase House of Design. Entry hours: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; 9 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Through May 17. Not handicapped accessible. Children younger than 12 not admitted. Parking and shuttle service available at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. $30 to $40. (626) 578-8500, www.PasadenaShowcase.org.